Swimming float



g- 9, 1932- c. c. HARRI$ 1,870,507

SWIMMING FLOAT Filed March 28, 1952 Carl C .FErra's Patented Aug. 9 1932PATENT OFFICE GAB-L C. HARRIS, OF ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS SWIMMING FLOATApplication filed March 28, 1932. Serial No. 601,531.

This invention relates to a float used principally for swimming and alsocapable of use as a life buoy.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple life buoy orswimming float which will be comparatively rigid and durable and will beprovided with a pair of side rails for the use of swimmers in the waterwhich will be a part ofthe float and will not easily be 16 broken off,even by Very rough usage; to provide a construction which does awayentirely with the usual cross rods or individual pieces that extendthrough it from one side to the other, a center board preferably beingsubstii5 tuted therefor of thin material; to provide a constructionwhich will fit the body in a general way, thus adapting it particularlyfor the teaching of swimming and providing a i solid body for thispurpose which cannot become deflated and cause the float to lose all itsbuoyancy instantly, and to provide a construction in which the waste oflight wood, such as Balsa wood, used in the construction will beentirely eliminated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the central flexible center board;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the pieces of buoyant material ofwhich the float is made;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the sides carrying the side gripFig. 5 is a transverse central sectional view of the float as completed;

4.0 Fig. 6 is a view showing two of the pieces illustrated in Fig. 3 andillustrating how they are out out of a plank to avoid the waste of wood;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of this invention, and

Fig. Sis a perspective view of another form of the invention.

This float is capable of use for teaching swimming and as a lifepreserver and as a 5 raft.

An importantfeature is the fact that two vertical side pieces 10 areemployed connected with each other by a center board 11 which is of thinmaterial, as wood or fiber. The edges of this center board are set intolongitudinal notches on the inner sides of the side pieces. On the outersides the side pieces have side rails 12 which are shown as integralwith the side pieces and furnish all the opportunity for gripping thefloat that is desired. This constitutes a strong side rail that is notlikely to be broken off.

In the preferred form, the center board is provided with two narrowslots 13 near the edges which also serve as hand grips for the swimmers.Also in this form the main part of the float material consists of fourpieces 14 of Balsa wood or other very buoyant material. To avoid wastein cutting out this material it is cut at a l5 angle at 15 through aplank 16 as shown in Fig. 6, thus furnishing two of these pieces 14without waste. Each of these buoyant pieces is set up against the sidepieces 10 in opposite sides of the center board and secured thereto bynails, screws or other fastening means 17 passing through the centerboard and some of them through the side pieces 10 and angularlydisposed.

The float described above is light and buoyant and can be carried aroundon land very 0 easily by the use of the grips furnished by the slots 13or the side rails and it is depressed at the center so that a bather canlie on it and use it as a support while learning to swim. This supportfor that purpose is not puncturable, of course, and therefore one of theelements of danger involved in the use of inflatable devices is entirelyeliminated. The float is strong on account of the way in which thepieces 14 are secured, both to the side pieces and to the center board,and on account of the way in which the center board is secured to theside pieces at its edges. It is capable of use for all the purposes forwhich floats, rafts, life preservers, etc., are em- 95 ployed andfurnishes many points of convenience over the old constructions.

If a more rigid float isdesired, or particularly a larger one, it can bemade with the side pieces 10, side rails 12 and center board 11 asdescribed above. In this case solid buoyant planks 20 are provided onboth sides of the center board, reaching from one side piece to theother and secured by fastening devices 21 which extend through thecenter board. In this case greater rigidity is secured and also a largeamount of buoyant material is provided and if it is desired to be usedfor a large raft it will be more rigid than the other form described.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modification of the same idea in which the parts10, 12 and 20 are employed but the side pieces 10 extend beyond the endsof the plank or planks 20 to 3 provide means for attaching an end rail22.

This has all the advantages of the form shown in Fig. 7, and a grippingrail 22 on each end.

Although I have illustrated and described only three forms of theinvention I am aware of the fact that other modifications can be madetherein by any person skilled in the art without departing from thescope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do notwish to be limited in this respect but what I do claim is 1. As anarticle of manufacture, a float comprising a center board, vertical sidepieces along the sides thereof and secured thereto,

' and buoyant material secured to the opposite sides of the centerboard.

2. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a thin center board,side pieces secured thereto along the inner sides thereof,

. buoyant material secured to the opposite sides of the center board,and side rails integrally mounted-on the side pieces.

3. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a. pair of verticalside pieces extending throughout its length on opposite sides. siderails integral therewith, a center board extending'from one side pieceto the other, and buoyant material mounted on both sidies of the centerboard between the side rai s.

4. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a pair of verticalpieces having side rails connected therewith, a center board extendingfrom one side piece to the other and 'set into the side pieces at bothsides of the center board, and pieces of buoyant material secured to thecenter board at its sides and to the side pieces, said buoyant piecesbeing spaced from each other at the center.

5. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a pair of verticalpieces having side rails connected therewith, a thin center boardextending from one side piece to the other and secured to the sidepieces at both sides of the center board, and pieces of buoyant materialsecured to the center board at its sides and to the side rails, saidbuoyant pieces having their inner surfaces cut at an angle, whereby thepieces of buoyant material can be cut out of a plank without waste ofmaterial.

6. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a thin center boardextending from side to side of the float, side pieces verticallyarranged having notches on the inner sides into which the opposite sidesof the center board project, and buoyant material on both sides of thecenter board, said center board having slots therethrough near the edgeto constitute hand grips.

7. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a pair of verticalside pieces, a center board connecting them, and buoyant materialfilling all the space on both sides of the center board from one sidepiece to the other.

8. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a pair of verticalside pieces, a center board connecting them, and buoyant materialsecured to the center board, the side pieces extending beyond thebuoyant mate- I rial and end rails supported by said side pieces andspaced from the buoyant material.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CARL C. HARRIS.

